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The Public Enterprises Ministry this morning acknowledged ActionSA’s letter requesting that the department do away with cadre deployment - where those aligned with the ruling party are hired in senior positions - when considering the appointment of new executives at the embattled state-owned logistics company, Transnet. 

ActionSA wrote to Public Enterprises Minister, Pravin Gordhan, after the recent resignations of the CEO, CFO and Transnet Freight Rail CEO. We believe that these resignations highlight how the ruling party’s policy of cadre deployment has dismally failed to turn around SOEs, leaving key state institutions weakened and increasing the cost of living for many South Africans. 

We have been resolute in our belief that cadre deployment has repeatedly appointed those closely aligned with political leaders, instead of those who would be best suited to run SOEs in order to deliver on their developmental goals. 

This is why ActionSA wrote to Gordhan asking that the policy of cadre deployment entirely be abandoned when hiring new executives at Transnet, and instead, only the most skilled and qualified people should be appointed. 

In a situation where poor leadership has directly contributed to increased poverty and unemployment, such as with Transnet, only the best possible person for the job should be hired in the best interest of all South Africans. 

ActionSA maintains that Transnet is too important for it to disintegrate to the extent it has, and therefore its rehabilitation should be prioritised to help South Africans create jobs, improve lives and battle poverty. 

As a party which values economic prosperity, ActionSA will continue to place pressure on the ruling party to ensure that decisions are taken which are in the best interest of all South Africans, instead of adopting policies which are intended to benefit a select few. 

Issued by President of ActionSA, Herman Mashaba